AL Plenary | Secretary says gov’t intends to take back more land plots

Topics related to land management and public housing were the main focus of yesterday’s Legislative Assembly (AL) plenary meeting. Answering lawmakers enquiries, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works pledged to withdraw more land plots in the coming few months, including some located close to Nam Van lake.
Raimundo do Rosário said that the government intends to reclaim a total of 48 land plots for which concession periods have ended. Two of these land plots were already recovered: one located in Pac On area, designated for a warehouse, and another in a new land reclamation area.
“I can guarantee that in the first semester of this year more land concessions will expire. I can assure you of that. We just need time to handle these processes,” he said, adding that the government has already processed some 24 land concession expiration claims, 21 of which are now involved in court disputes.
Lawmaker Mak Soi Kun asked about plans for the future use of what is currently idle land. Lam Heong Sang requested a timeline and details regarding the seven land plots that are designated for public housing. The vice president of AL reminded Rosário that this topic has been discussed since May 2013 with few developments.
The secretary several times replied, “there is no timeline,” delegating to the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSTOP) director to explain that the plots located in Lam Mau Pier area, Iao Hon, Taipa Island and in the surroundings of the Areia Preta Power Station all are subject to procedures that involve evictions, environmental impact studies or are simply occupied by public services that are waiting to be relocated to new buildings yet to be built.
“I do not want to give you false hopes. I do not want to tell you that it will be done in four or five years and then not be able to conclude the works in that time,” Raimundo do Rosário said.
The residential units of Cheng I Building are also not expected to be completed to schedule. The secretary had previously announced that the residential units would be completed and ready for delivery in April this year. He now states that “this will not be possible. Only next year.”
On the public housing strategy, a topic addressed by many lawmakers, Rosário revealed that the government requested a study to “formally” ascertain the “real” needs of the territory; reiterating that public housing is still a “priority for the government.”
The so-called ‘third solution’ public housing scheme was also addressed with the secretary revealing that the final conclusions on this matter will be made public this year, entirely discarding the possibility of the government seeking a “housing on budget” solution.
Nine spoken enquiries were presented yesterday from a total of seventeen scheduled. The session resumes today.